Great Bridge Lock Park

The park – located along the Intracoastal Waterway just off Battlefield Blvd., where the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, coming up from North Carolina, meet the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River – is named for the Corp of Engineers’ lock which separates the salt water of the river from the fresh water of the canal. This 19-acre park, a small peninsula surrounded by the canal on one side and the river on the other, features a two-lane boat ramp, a raised berm area, with interpretive signage explaining the lock system, permits spectators a great view of the many yachts which transit the lock on this busy waterway which runs from Maine to Key West, FL.

Park Amenities:

In 2004, the National Park Service added Great Bridge Lock Park to its
“Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network” for its historic and ecological
significance — it is at the southernmost estuary in the Gateway Network
and the southernmost explored point on the NPS’s Capt. John Smith
National Historic Waterways Trail. Go to www.baygateways.net for more information.